Related Foreign Literature Bout Street Foods Essays and Term Papers

Defining street foods and fast foods

The term "street foods" describes a wide range of ready-to-eat foods and beverages sold and sometimes prepared in public places, notably streets.2 Like fast foods, the final preparation of street foods occurs when the customer orders the meal which can be consumed where it is purchased or taken away. Street foods and fast foods are low in cost compared with restaurant meals and offer an attractive alternative to home-cooked food. In spite of these similarities, street food and fast food enterprises differ in variety, environment, marketing techniques and ownership.

[2 This definition of street foods was agreed upon by the FAO Regional Workshop on Street Foods in Asia, held in Jogjakarta, Indonesia in 1986 (Winarno, 1986).]

Street foods often reflect traditional local cultures and exist in an endless variety. There is much diversity in the raw materials as well as in the preparation of street food beverages, snacks and meals. Vendors' stalls are usually located outdoors or under a roof which is easily accessible from the street. They have low-cost seating facilities which are sometimes rudimentary. Their marketing success depends exclusively on location and word-of-mouth promotion. Street food businesses are usually owned and operated by individuals or families but benefits from their trade extend throughout the local economy. For instance, vendors buy their fresh food locally, thus linking their enterprises directly with small-scale farms and market gardens.

By contrast, fast food outlets specialize in fewer foods which are usually prepared by frying. Hamburgers, chicken, chips and pizza often predominate. These enterprises, which are usually indoors, invest heavily in seating, air conditioning and bright decor. Marketing strategies are almost exclusively dependent on advertising, sponsorship and special offers which aim to create brand loyalty. Owners usually have a franchise arrangement with a transnational company...